Even without the aid of methyl bromide, growers in the Netherlands continue to be major producers of winter vegetables for the European Community, and generally command high market prices.

"European consumers pay a much higher price for agricultural commodities than we pay here in the United States," says Joseph Noling. He is an extension nematologist with the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences at Lake Alfred, FL. "Compared to the United States, they also spend a much higher proportion of their income on food, for serving portions that are typically smaller than ours."

Food pricing, capital investment, and environmental considerations prohibit U.S. growers from adopting the methyl bromide alternatives that seem to be so successful in the Netherlands, Noling says.

Food Pricing and Competitive Markets

U.S. growers provide high-quality, inexpensive, ample supplies of fruit and vegetables year round.

"Access to high-priced product markets has allowed Dutch growers to adopt high-cost, energy-dependent alternatives to methyl bromide, such as steam," Noling says. "But, growers in Florida face quite a different situation."

For example, Florida tomato growers must compete with Mexican growers. Currently, Mexico enjoys reduced labor costs, one-tenth those of the United States, while we have the advantage of lower transportation/shipping costs, as well as 60 percent higher productivity per unit of land.

But changes are looming on the horizon that will affect this "balance" of competitive advantage. In the year 2000, Mexico will ship directly to U.S. markets without tariffs, off-loading fees, or middleman brokerage fees. Mexico is investing heavily in new technology. And, if Mexican growers continue to expand their use of methyl bromide, they will further close the gap by cutting production costs and increasing yields.

"As an example of the current competition with Mexico, 75 percent of Florida growers are claiming 40 percent or more loss for their 1996 spring tomato crop," Noling reports. "Also, we have an alarming number of farmers who are declaring bankruptcy, downsizing their operations, or cutting back on acreage planted in tomatoes."

In the future when methyl bromide is no longer available, those U.S. growers who are still in business will be forced to use a combination of replacements, facing almost certain increases in production costs and possible reductions in crop yields.

Capital Investment

Unlike the Netherlands, most U.S. crop production occurs in the field. And, it would not be economically feasible to convert U.S. field production to greenhouse technology.

"In addition to the initial outlay of millions of dollars for construction of greenhouses, the cost for a system to generate steam, in this country, would be extremely high," Noling says. "This is not counting the permanent duct/drainage systems needed for greenhouse production."

Assuming diesel cost at only $1 per gallon, fuel consumption to generate steam could well range up to about $1,000 per acre, according to Noling. Also, U.S. growers can't depend on a long-term diesel supply, and they don't have ready access to natural gas.

Environmental Considerations

It has been reported that burning fossil fuels adds significant amounts of carbon dioxide to the environment. If U.S. growers converted to greenhouse production, one of the potential major problems would be higher carbon dioxide emissions from diesel fuel.

"This could intensify global warming, which may become a problem similar in magnitude to that of the ozone depletion caused by methyl bromide," Noling notes.

Florida growers are blessed with a warm, wet, humid subtropical climate. Unfortunately, this is a mixed blessing, since it is also an excellent environment for myriad soilborne and foliar pests and plant pathogens.

"Because of these climatic differences, our pest problems appear to be much more diverse, intense, and volatile than in the Netherlands where it's usually cool with little sunlight. Also, the high water tables in Florida make it very difficult to treat pests with steam because of the tremendous temperature-buffering capacity of the soil," Noling says.

Florida soils are sandy, favoring weeds and pests like the root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne spp.). And because of Florida's mild winters, these weeds and pests can reproduce and grow year-round.